ibunka TB_U10

5 British / female / biologist / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: none

Cultural Pattern B: Japanese people tend to avoid asking directly for help

6 Australian / male / videographer / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: Asking directly for favors / I appreciate directness and do not like being expected to read minds 7 French / female / teacher / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: none

Cultural Pattern B: none

Cultural Pattern B: I think I tend to give hints when I'm having a problem / people would tend to talk about their problems, hoping to get offered some help.

8 French / male / professor / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: none

Cultural Pattern B: You share a problem, and then some friends or people can have a tendency to give too much advice, to the point of being annoying.

9 Belgian / female / teacher / lives in Japan Cultural Pattern A: none

Cultural Pattern B: after hearing about problems I was having, friends would OFFER their help / it is common to first turn it down it / insists, “Don’t worry about it, it’s really no problem”, and this continues until finally the offered help is accepted

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UNIT 10 | ONE STEP FURTHER